Activities in Papua New Guinea

One of the project components - new Singsing sub-station completed in 2022

1. Introduction & Background

The Morobe Province is faced with chronic shortage of stable electricity. Despite the remarkable industrial growth in Lae city and its neighboring areas, the power demand outweighs the power supply. The challenge of having adequate and stable power supply remains huge and therefore there is a need for improvement. The reinforcement project response to the need for improved reliability of Ramu grid, and for anticipated increases in demand over the next 10 years. In recognizing that single circuit transmission will be insufficient to achieve stability and reliability on the Ramu grid, as such this project is supporting the construction of an additional transmission line that will meet the criteria for reliability of power supply. In addition, it will include the upgrading of substations in order to further support reliability of transmission.

By increasing access to stable electricity, these upgrades will contribute to improving the living standards of approximately 3.4 million people and revitalizing the economy. Construction is ongoing and is expected to be completed in 2023.

Papua New Guinea, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States of America created the PNG Electrification Partnership (PEP) during the 2018 APEC Leaders' Summit in Port Moresby. The goal of PEP is to help PNG achieve its goal of connecting 70 percent of the population to electricity by 2030. JICA supports for power sector in PNG and implements "Ramu Transmission System Reinforcement Project" as one of partners of the PEP.

2. Basic Information

• JICA Cooperation Scheme : Japanese ODA Loan
• Target Development Sector: Power
• Target SDGs: Goal 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
• Counterpart Organization
  Department of Treasury as Borrower
  Website: https://www.treasury.gov.pg/ (external link)
  PNG Power Limited as Executing Agency (E/A)
  Website: https://www.pngpower.com.pg/(external link)
• Duration: Construction May 2019 - January 2023 and Loan Disbursement Period May 2014 - May 2023
  (i) Loan Agreement: August 22, 2013
  (ii) Ground Breaking Ceremony: March 13, 2019
  
• Amount: Total cost : PGK 263 Million (JPY 8,340 million)
  (i) JICA Project Financing : JPY 8.340 million
  (ii) GoPNG Counterpart funding: PGK 54.7 million
• Target Provinces, Location: Huon Gulf District, Markham District and Lae City of Morobe Province
• Gender: Gender is highly considered in this project. The project has a female surveyor and male engineers and trades man engaged in this project.

3. Outline of Project

• Project purpose
  In order to stabilize the electric power supply for economic growth and livelihood improvement of local residents of Lae and to increase opportunities for reliable and stable electrical connections in the neighboring areas of project site by reinforcement of the 132 kV transmission line between Ramu 1 hydro power station and Taraka substation through Erap substation.
• Overall goal
  Stable electric power supply to Lae by reinforcement of 132 kv transmission line and rehabilitation of substations thereby contributing to economic development and livelihood improvement of local residents and neighboring areas
• Outputs
  Project Components
  - Reinforcement of 132 kv double circuit transmission line from Taraka to Singsing substations
  - Construction of 326 new towers
  - Rehabilitation of Ramu switch yard
  - Rehabilitation of Singsing, Erap and Taraka substations
  - Installation of Telecommunication connecting the substations

4. Environmental and Social Considerations

No severe impacts on the environment and people

5. More information

Recent Activities

Stringing Works - 2022

Tower Construction Works - 2022